Related Federal Cases
Meth Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison
Federal authorities have brought to justice five men and three women who conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Sioux City area, resulting in prison terms ranging from 84 to 204 months.
The defendants, who entered guilty pleas over the past year, include Justin Wilde, Eduardo Ledesma, Ruben Rios, Adam Doty, Stormie Blank, Joanna Gotschall, Melanie Thiebault, and Matthew Ruhland. Each was sentenced in Sioux City by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.
According to information provided by the United States at the sentencings and change of plea hearings, Rios and Ledesma were multiple pound sources of supply of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana in the area of Sioux City, Iowa, and South Sioux City, Nebraska, as well as South Dakota. They resided together in the Rios family home in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and were leaders of their drug dealing operation, which began in 2014.
Many of the drug transactions were initiated from the Rios residence, where officers discovered a loaded assault rifle, marijuana, methamphetamine, nearly a pound of cocaine, and approximately $150,000 in two different safes during a search. The money was used to purchase more drugs, while the remaining profit was from the drug conspiracy. Ledesma was selling over $25,000 worth of methamphetamine and cocaine each month for more than a year.
The defendants’ prison terms are as follows: Wilde was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; Doty was sentenced to 91 months imprisonment; Blank was sentenced to 90 months imprisonment; Gotschall was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; Ruhland was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment; Rios was sentenced to 204 months imprisonment; Thiebault was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment; and Ledesma was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment. Each must also serve a term of supervised release after their prison term.
The sentences are a result of a multi-year investigation by federal authorities, who worked closely with local law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking operation. The investigation culminated in the arrest and prosecution of the defendants, who were each found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
The case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of methamphetamine trafficking on our communities and the importance of continued efforts to combat this threat. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice and keep our communities safe.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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